Lot 24: Two Gen Zers, two Gen Xers, and a Boomer walk into a bar and…

     Now, imagine a very young soldier in the1800s who had lost everything in battle. Desperately, he searches about the battlefield hoping to piece together a rifle and accouterments only to find nothing more than broken and damaged pieces. Lacking any professional skills, and even talent, he uses his very limited resources to patch together as best he can a powder horn; a rifle pouch; and a couple of knives. While not as beautiful as their original appearance, these pieces will function well until new pieces can be obtained – hopefully in better times.

     That scenario was the premise for this rig that was created by leather worker Travis Bauer, his daughter knifemaker Tiauna Friend, knifemaker Jonah Cain and his father Scott Cain, and horner Henry Bowman. All pieces are structurally sound, and the faux repaired damage is only superficial – they are strong and ready for use. The team’s age span of nearly half a century bears witness to the robust and vibrant inter-generational community of artists preserving and perpetuating the art of the Longrifle culture.

Text provided by Henry Bowman